Play celebrates first inclusion of women's cricket in Games

A new community production about women, girls and cricket will be performed at Midlands Arts Centre in celebrationthe sport 's first inclusion in the Commonwealth Games.

Part of Birmingham 2022 Festival, theatre company Women & Theatre present A Thousand Threads - a production exploring themes of women and girls ' lives and aspirations both on and off the pitch.

Community performers from across Birmingham and Sandwell will deliver the production which features vibrant choreography set to a soundscape of words and music.

Janice Connolly BEM, artistic director of Women & Theatre said: “Ever since the news that the Commonwealth Games were coming to Birmingham in 2022, Women & Theatre have been plotting and planning to bring a new community production about women, girls and cricket to audiences at MAC.

“We 're really excited to be bring this ambitious theatre production to audiences which is the third in our women and sport trilogy. We are also proud to be working with Deaf Explorer to ensure that performance is accessible to D/deaf audience, participants, and artists, by integrating BSL and captioning into performances. ”

Raidene Carter, executive producer at Birmingham 2022 Festival said: “What better way to celebrate women's cricket being introduced to the Commonwealth Games than with this wonderful Women & Theatre project - one of 10 sports themes commissions in the Birmingham 2022 Festival programme where sport and art are intertwined to tell stories that will inspire fans of both. Audiences can expect to be bowled over by this one!. ”

The performances at MAC follow a series of community performances that took place in different outdoor locations across Birmingham and Sandwell, with each day representing one of a four-day Cricket Match. The performances will feature the whole series together for the first time.

Part of the performance will be listened through headphones. There will also be BSL and captioned video available for D/deaf and hard of hearing audiences. A standalone audio experience will be available via podcast and listening stations.

A Thousand Threads is at Midlands Arts Centre 15 - 17 July.

For more information and to book tickets visit: https://womenandtheatre.co.uk/project/a-thousand-threads/

Pictured: Women & Theatre - A Thousand Threads (credit: Pete Lopeman)